The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-31
Special Contributors.
CHRISTIANITY AND THE HOME.
BY REV. MARY ]. DE LONG.
(Neenah, Wis.,

The history of the family as an in
stitution in its relation to social order,
is one of very great interest and impOr-
tance. 1t connects itself with all
classes Of society, and has unquestion-
ably been one large factor in the grad
ual softening of manners, elevation of
thought and political union which
mark the most enlightened nations of
the present time. The parental rela
tion is a necessary inference from the
universal fact of sex. The primitive
idea of the family was doubtless a
physical one. But the growth of man
out of mere animalism is marked by
corresponding elevation in his thought
of the marriage relation and the rear
ing of children. After all due value
has been accorded to ''enlightened self
interest," as factor in or to political
economy as the intellectual expression
of our present utilitarian civilization,
it yet remains that the family has had
large and varied influence in this direc
tion. Prof. Fiske says 1.-THE prim-
ordial unit of human society is the
family, and it was by the establish
ment of definite and permanent family
relationships that the step was taken
which raised man. socially above the
level of gregariOus apehOOd.o The
family by the double appeal which it
makes to man through his physical and
affectional nature has been, beyond
question, a powerful factor in deter
mining his methods and his manners,
or in other words, the form of his civil
lization. Home has been such pTec-
ious treasure, such dear delight to
men that it has largely controlled their
action in the world outside, and SO has
been the real instigation of all peaceful
and industrious method.
But closer than any mere utilitarian
union has been the union between relig-
ion and the home. This is evidenced
from the fact that among all people there
has been feeling of sacredness about
the home. The pagan nations had their
domestic fireside gods whose especial
province it was to watch over all
the interests of family life. Every
hearthstone, however rude or humble,
became in the pagan religions the sa-
cred eat of some tutelar deity. But
il was my object to write only, and
that briefly, of the influence of Chris
tianity upon the home, and to connect
the thought with the joyous Christmas
time 80 recently at hand. There is no
question but the religion of the Lord
Jesus Christ has had wonderfully el.
evating, sanctifyiDg influence upon the
domestic rela ions. This influence has
rayed out from Christianity in many
directions. Prominent among them is
the fact that 1t inculcates as of supreme
Importance the distinctively feminine
virtues. The fruits of the spirit are
love, long suffering, gentleness, faith,
meekness, temperance emlnently
femInlne in their spirit. The mas
cullne virtues, courage, magnanimlty,
patrIoJlsm, are looked upon as of al
together minor imp p)rtance. Courage,
except moral courage, which is almost
purely feminine, has no place i'll what
we may regard as the distinctiyely
Christian character. Patriotism, which
among pagan peoples was reok0ned as
a vIrCue of supreme Importance, IS not
forbidden indeed in Christianity, but it
is rendered nugaCory by the doctrine,
not only of the brotherhood of human
ity, but by the idea of the universal
kingd Jm OF God and the church as the
body OF CnrlsL out of whatever nation
it might be adhered. La eXdlJIng the
feminine virtues Christianity exalted
the family life, strengthened domestic
peace and cJnjugal affection. There
could be no real cOujugal union where
women We're regarded, not simply as a
subj ct class, but as infer or beings.
Bulglug men to regard the virtues of
women as especially mnended by
the true, revealed religion, had the re-
suit of exalting woman in the thought
of men aud enlistIng their deeper feel
ingS in her behalf. This reacted by in
PRODUCING woman into another moral
atmOsDhere. one in which men found
her able and ready to reign as a queen
rather than to serve as a slave. Lscky
says: The position that was gradu-